Wuwuw, I actually got mad at it, I'm really a bad reindeer!
Chopper hugged Bebo's furry body, burying his face deeply into the polar bear's fur, and started to cry loudly:
"Waaa, I'm sorry, Bebo, it was wrong of me to blame you, you're... you're really awesome!"
Bebo was caught off guard by the sudden hug, awkwardly patting Chopper's back, foolishly laughing: "No, no need to worry about it..."
The fluffy duo was always this noisy, and everyone just looked at the two little cuties with smiles, not disturbing them.
But for another "noisy duo," apparently, no one had that much patience.
"Hmph, Green Algae Head, what are you doing here?"
Sanji lit a cigarette, looked disdainfully at the person beside him, "Clearly strong swordsmen disdain eating Devil Fruits, a shameless guy like you indeed can't understand that kind of awareness."
"Ha? Stop talking nonsense, I'm here specifically to enjoy your embarrassment!"
Zoro crossed his arms, sneered coldly: "As expected, here you are, so, is the guy with a 50 Belly bounty feeling too humiliated by how low it is and trying to make up for it with a Fruit Ability?"
"What did you say?! Bringing up bounties! It's all your stupid idea that caused me to not defeat my opponent, and the photo on the warrant turned out foolish, do you want to fight, idiot!"
"Just what I wanted! See how I cut you into sashimi!"
Ever since the warrant update, the two felt humiliated, and aside from doubling their hard training every day, they just kept picking fights with each other, and now too, both were about to flip the table and start a brawl in the conference room.
Suddenly—
Thump! Thump!
With two heavy thuds, Zoro and Sanji's heads were simultaneously knocked, leaving big bumps.
Tashigi retracted the sword sheath, displeased: "If you want to fight, go outside to do it, you two little brats, don't delay Lord Xiano's important matters."
"Oh."
The two of them obediently sat back down, holding their heads while tearing up, not daring to argue further.
In the next second, they sensed something was off, exchanged a look, then Zoro turned his head to yell fiercely at Tashigi: "Who are you! You think you can boss us around?"
This annoying girl, didn't react for a moment, and really thought she was Kuina!
"What, unhappy?" Tashigi snorted, "Once this matter is over, I can accompany you to the end."
Zoro gritted his teeth.
He indeed felt unsure, originally when he just joined the Endgame, he didn't take this girl seriously, thinking his skill was a level higher.
But during the War of the Nations, Tashigi withstood Streusen for half an hour, showing impressive skills that made everyone view her differently.
Clearly, she's not very old, who exactly did she learn from...
"Alright, everyone quiet down."
Shano knocked on the table, and the conference room immediately fell silent.
He looked around at everyone, with a slight smile: "I'll remind you first, the notion of strong swordsmen disdaining Devil Fruits or anything like that... depends on the situation, don't blindly follow."
"Don't put strange shackles on yourself, true strengths never get stuck on form or care about what others think, be it Devil Fruits, pure Body Techniques, Swordsmanship, or Haki, they are just tools to reach the peak."
He raised his hand in gesture, and Bebo promptly stood up, opening all the boxes on the table, and eight Devil Fruits of various shapes and sizes lined up in front of everyone.
"Bebo, explain in detail each Fruit's abilities and characteristics for everyone."
Shano instructed, "Everyone pick for themselves, it's alright if you don't find anything of interest, there will be more chances in the future."
Don't put useless shackles on yourself?
Bebo had already begun standing at the front, introducing them one by one to everyone, while Tashigi slightly narrowed her eyes, silent.
She looked down at her own palms, the calluses were thick on her palms, fingertips, and knuckles.
The words Shano just said flashed across her mind.
Indeed, I've always been so dedicated to pure Sword Dao.
Even believed that only this way can I live up to the path of the sword master, encouraged by Lord Xiano, whom I practice tirelessly day and night;
To stand shoulder to shoulder with Kuina, and stand proudly behind Lord Xiano.
But, but...
This world is so unfair, the effectiveness of hard work is ultimately limited, unable to erase the vast chasm of innate talent between individuals.
Clearly, I've been practicing Sword Dao since childhood too;
Clearly I even received guidance from the former World's No.1 Sword Master, Mister Kekomi, for nearly a year.
But my abilities, not to mention approaching Kuina, are nowhere near seeing her back even remotely, and even with Zoro and Sanji, there wasn't much of a gap.
This weak self, who couldn't help Lord Xiano, actually had the fortune to hold the title of Endgame Headquarters crew member.
Every time walking within the territory, receiving those envious glances from Four Major Armies members, she felt... unworthy of it.
Tashigi closed her eyes, taking a deep breath.
Lord Xiano was right.
Perhaps, it's time to break the shackles and let go of biases.
Tashigi suddenly opened her eyes.
Her gaze wandered among the eight Devil Fruits, finally fixing on a particular sand-yellow, cactus-shaped fruit.
"Sand-Sand Fruit..."
She murmured softly, an image of the current Three Great Admirals of the navy appeared in her mind.
Back then, she deeply believed in the path of justice of the navy, aside from Shano, she also admired those three Admirals as her idols.
All three were Logia-type users, although they're no longer idols, this power, wouldn't be wrong...
Tashigi's eyes firmed up as she reached out to pick up that Sand-Sand Fruit, the rough textures of the fruit's surface under her fingers, bringing a peculiar sensation.
"I choose this one." She raised her head, her voice clear.
The conference room instantly went silent for a moment.
Everyone looked at Tashigi with some surprise, including Zoro and Sanji.
"Hey! Are you really giving up the pursuit of pure Sword Dao?" Zoro's expression changed slightly, couldn't help but ask.
Tashigi chuckled softly, without glancing at him, instead gazing intently at Shano in the main seat.
To be the right hand of Shano, to assist him, that's my greatest wish.
This is where my Sword Dao leads, how can it be said to lack purity?
Shano didn't notice Tashigi's gaze, nodding slightly:
"Wise choice, even among all Logia-type abilities, the Sand-Sand Fruit is quite outstanding. A Logia-type's ability might sound a bit discordant with Swordsmanship, but Kizaru is an example that, with proper development, they can completely complement each other, take it."
"Yes, my Lord."
Tashigi earnestly nodded, carefully putting away the fruit, already thinking of how to integrate the Sand-Sand ability into her Swordsmanship.
"So, next—" Shano glanced at everyone, "Has anyone else decided?"
"I'd like to choose the White Tiger Fruit, my Lord."
Bebo hesitated for a moment, but ultimately raised his fluffy paw.
Seeing everyone's gaze focused on him, Bebo scratched his head sheepishly, explaining with simplicity:
"I'm best at close-combat skills, but always struggled with the limit of my strength, if I could get boosts from a Zoan-type, I think it could better unleash the power of my combat skills..."
Shano nodded approvingly, smiling: "That's a very reasonable consideration, the White Tiger Fruit indeed suits you, it's yours, Bebo."
A significant enhancement in physical strength, reinforced by Moon Lion Form...
After all, for someone who can rescue his captain from the Four Emperors, Shano always saw much potential in Bebo's strength.
"Yeah! Thank you, my Lord!"
Bebo happily took the White Tiger Fruit, carefully putting it away just like Tashigi.
"Whoa, there's actually a Cigar-Cigar Fruit."
Sanji puffed out a smoke ring, filled with emotion:
"Being able to produce unlimited cigarettes by itself? It's unbelievably tempting, but unfortunately, a true Knight at sea must always be ready to jump in to save a lady, and can't let themselves become a landlubber..."